Friday, September 1, 2017

Beginning
on June 1, 2017 with an end-date of August 31, 2017 ie: they have to be in my
hot little hands by then.

The
Prize to be sent out by the end of Sep 2017
(barring unforeseen circumstances) – an Atomizer of Coeur d’Esprit Natural Perfume.

This is a light summer floral with
a green undertone and brings to mind fragrant grasses and an array of flower
petals from rose, lavender, jasmine, butterfly bush (vanilla/patchouli scent),
and Japanese Maple (leafy scent). I have eight scented rose bushes, two types
of lavender, and star jasmine growing in my front yard and, throughout the
summer, it’s a perfume that enchants whenever I get in or out of my car.

Also remember, this is a
‘challenge scent’ so don’t worry about the IRFA regs unless you plan on selling
it.

Your new creation can be in an
alcohol, oil, or crème base (beeswax and oil).

Guidelines:

oPlease send the following information
to me at LynAyre@telus.net
your full name
mailing address
phone number
recent photo

Please attach aData Tag ie: name of the
perfume, list of the ingredients, name the solvent (ie: oil, alcohol), your
company information (even if it's simply your name and contact information),
the size of the end product ie: 5 ml; precautions, how to use, and the 'best
before date'. (See photo for an idea of what a Data Tag looks like). Affix a
label to the vial.

Please follow these directions

Submit the perfume and the following to me by 31Aug17.
Please send it out in time to reach me by that date. Send it earlier, if you
like, and it can sit here to mature.

owrite 5 sentences about who you are in
relation to Natural Perfumery and submit via email

oemail me the complete list of the notes
(you don’t need to provide the number of drops you used) in your creation

oemail me your photo

Each
perfumer is graded 1-10 on the following categories: how well
they followed the above instructions; whether a short five-sentence about his
or her vision of the perfume’s creation was included; whether a short
five-sentence bio; a recent photo was included; were two Data Tags with
pertinent information about their perfume included; plus: the balance,
character, diffusion, tenacity, and structure of their creation.

A Natural
Perfume has the following qualities:

oBalance – so that no
single component can be detected, unless it is a Soliflore.

oCharacter – The twists and
turns of a perfume as it evolves on the skin. What kind of a perfume is this?
Is it a raunchy riot? Is it soft and gentle? Where does it take you? What’s at
the heart of it? Does it have personality? How do the layers unfold? Who would
this perfume appeal to?

oDiffusion – does it
surround the wearer with an aura of scent?

oStructure – Is there
harmony in the mix? Have the base, heart, and head notes been properly
addressed? Are the proportions correct for these ingredients so that there is
balance, character, diffusion, and tenacity? Does it have dimension?

oTenacity – staying power
is the ability of a perfume to last on the wearer for more than just a couple
of hours

Vision: “Whisper” I
wanted a fresh, warm and inviting scent, with a light citrus note of bergamot and
earthiness to beckon the sniffer and have them linger.The soft florals of lavender absolute, rose
and jasmine are complemented by the spiciness of cinnamon leaf. As the base
notes emerge, patchouli and sandalwood anchor and solidify the blend with a
touch of the vanilla echoing the softness of the lavender, rose and jasmine.
This is a toney fragrance for a woman who likes her elegance understated.

Bio: I am a Clinical Aromatherapist and Natural Perfumer.I am attracted to scent and find it deeply
satisfying on a physical, emotional and spiritual level.As a reflexologist, I work daily with blends
I create for my clients.Natural
Perfumery is the fun part of my world where I play with structured abandon!I get deep satisfaction from creating
perfumes.

Review:This fragrance is very light and delicate, as
the name “Whisper” implies. It evokes memories of soft summer night standing
out in my front yard, watering my lovely flowers. It reminds me of the crescent
moon and its pale light barely making it to earth but there nonetheless.

Vision: The
vision of my perfume, GARDEN OF VERSES, is based on the children’s book, “A
Children’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson.I loved that book and it has travels with me
through all facets of my life, to settle in a place of honor on my book shelf
in California.My mother used to read
poetry from that special book to my sister and me, while sitting in our little
English Garden at our home in Yonkers, New York.My favorites were two poems “The Swing” and
“Windy Nights”.I would ask her to read
those two poems repeatedly, and to this day, I remember every verse and line
for both!

Bio:A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes is dedicated to the art of
creating natural fragrancesusing
only pure organic materials. The motto for AWAAPP is “define yourself naturally
by wearing A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes”, I believe in this and all of my
perfumes stay true to this credo! Wearing a fragrance is a means of
self-expression and I wanted to convey this in each fragrance I create,
including GARDEN OF VERSES Perfume.Even
though I have been blending natural perfumes for 17 years, I am still
discovering new natural ingredients and new methods in the creation of new
fragrances.Learning is an essential in
the art of perfumery.

Review: Like a stroll through an English Country
Garden, “Garden of Verses” reminds me of warm summer days, gentle breezes, and bright
blue skies. It is a wonderful replica of something that can be found in real
life. Very enjoyable to sniff and to wear.

Vision:While
listening to the soundtrack of the 1973 movie, The Sting, I was drawn into an
unusually slow rag-time instrumental that was equally melancholic and
euphorically uplifting.Intrigued by
this paradox in the tune “Solace”, I looked up the definition of the word and
found that it is something that gives comfort, consolation or relief—if a song
can successfully comfort in sadness but also aim toward hope then that’s what I
wanted My Front Yard perfume “piece” to convey as well.Although I have but three lavender bushes in
my front yard, the herb grows plentifully in the Okanagan so I purchased local
lavender essential oil and gave it a crowning place in Solace using more than
25% in the perfume concentrate.Lavender
triggers alpha waves in the brain and induces relaxation (a state most
important in allowing ourselves to be nurtured and consoled); rose evokes
nostalgia (comforting in times of grief); and jasmine stimulates beta waves
(important for focus and being still in the moment). This trilogy in Solace is
supported by bit players that enhance a feeling of well-being during times of
grief or distress.

Bio:My
journey into the enchanted world of scent began on the family ranch in Southern
Alberta as I encountered many awe-inspiring smells from livestock, barns,
fields, gardens and my favorites: the dust from the Quonsets where freshly
unloaded grain was stored and the dust from the fields where freshly cut hay
lay.In my teenage years my mother and
aunt treated me to lovely perfumes that to this day bring back wonderful
memories. Perhaps these events
ultimately led to my understanding that scent is powerful and can anchor us to
the moment, engage us in life and help us live fully in it.Becoming an Aromatherapist and Natural
perfumer was the next logical step in my path to uncovering the exceptional
healing capacity of the oils as well as tuning into their unsurpassed aesthetic
beauty.

Review:“Solace”
is warm and enticing. It draws the sniffer in to discover how it was all pulled
together. The light touch of spearmint is well-placed and brings some relief to
the floral aspects of the scent. I felt very balanced immediately on smelling
this fragrance.

The
Samples

The
Prize

A beautiful atomizer of Coeur d'Esprit Natural Perfume "Inspired",
surrounded by an elegant gold sleeve, suitable for evening wear; and perfect to
carry with you.

This
perfume begins with a lively citrus opening, which quickly evolves into a
garden of surprizes. It is deeply floral and pulls you in to discover the
little nuances and ‘scent-bites’ it is offering. ‘Inspired’ has a liquid
hypnotic quality that immediately relaxes and rejuvenates the wearer. The
promise is that you’ll keep going back for another sniff.

Glam Bag Giveaway

There are two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the first and
second person who comments on the blog post and includes the words: ‘I would
like to join in the Glam Bag offer’. Contact me privately though my face book
page and I’ll connect back to you for your mailing address. There are two
organza bags of the five lovely 1 ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this
post. Let your friends know to to read and make their comments, too.There are
two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the first and second person who comments on
the blog post and includes the words: ‘I would like to join in the Glam Bag
offer’. Contact me privately though my face book page and I’ll connect back to
you for your mailing address. There are two organza bags of the five lovely 1
ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this post. Let your friends know to to read
and make their comments, too.There are two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the
first and second person who comments on the blog post and includes the words:
‘I would like to join in the Glam Bag offer’. Contact me privately though my
face book page and I’ll connect back to you for your mailing address. There are
two organza bags of the five lovely 1 ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this
post. Let your friends know to to read and make their comments, too.There are
two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the first and second person who comments on
the blog post and includes the words: ‘I would like to join in the Glam Bag
offer’. Contact me privately though my face book page and I’ll connect back to
you for your mailing address. There are two organza bags of the five lovely 1
ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this post. Let your friends know to to read
and make their comments, too.There are
two ‘Glam Bag Giveaways’ to be won by a lucky commenter on this challenge. Please
include the words, ‘I would like to join the ‘Glam Bag Giveaway’ in your
comment along with anything else you’d like to say about the challenge. Let
your friends know to read my face book post and make their comments there, too.
If this is not possible, head on over to my perfume blog and do it there. http://coeurdespritnaturalperfume.blogspot.ca/

Participants in the
challenge are not included in this giveaway.

Contact me privately though my face book page and I’ll connect
back to you for your mailing address. There are two organza bags of the five
lovely 1 ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this post. Let your friends know
to to read and make their comments, too.The
winners can contact me privately through my face book page and we’ll connect so
I can get your mailing addresses. The gift consists of a gold organza pouch
with the three .5 ml to 1 ml perfumes I’ve reviewed so you can experience all
of the entries, as I did.

The
Results Are In

The Grand Prize Winner is

Suzy Larsen

from Kelowna,
BC, Canada, for her entry called “Solace”

As soon as I opened the
bottle, I was over the moon. This fragrance is so close to what I experience
when I leave or return to my home over the summer months. This “My Front Yard” perfume design
captured the warm balsamic and deeply floral notes in my personal front yard.

The
Seal

Thanks so much to Mary
Ellen Dorey Cassman and Jane Cate for joining in the fun. Your perfumes are all
wonderful and you should feel very proud of your work and your resulting new
scents. I appreciated each of your designs and it was a pleasure to play with
you all again.

Please know that,
before I do anything else, I do the sniff test and make my notes. I dab some on
me and on a scent strip and sniff every half hour until it is gone. Then I
write the evaluation. Finally, I compile this file with your vision, notes,
bio, and my review.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Beginning
on May 24, 2016 with an end-date of August 24, 2016 ie: they have to be in my
hot little hands by then.

The Prize
to be sent out by the end of Sep 2016 (barring unforeseen circumstances) - a 5
ml Atomizer of Coeur d’Esprit Natural Perfume.

This is a woodsy, forest, mossy scent with light green notes and local
(to you) forest flowers. This brings to mind tree moss, damp earth, costus
root, fresh florals like scented orchids, genet or broom, honeysuckle, berries,
and fragrant leaves. Remember, no mushrooms as I am allergic. Also remember,
this is a ‘challenge scent’ so don’t worry about the IRFA regs unless you plan
on selling it.

Your new creation can be in an alcohol, oil, or crème base
(beeswax and oil)

Guidelines:

oPlease send the following information to me at LynAyre@telus.net
your full name
mailing address
phone number
recent photo

Please attach aData Tag ie: name of the
perfume, list of the ingredients, name the solvent (ie: oil, alcohol), your
company information (even if it's simply your name and contact information),
the size of the end product ie: 5 ml; precautions, how to use, and the 'best
before date'. (See photo for an idea of what a Data Tag looks like). Affix a
label to the vial.

Please follow these directions

Submit the perfume and the following to me by 15Aug16. Please send
it out in time to reach me by that date. Send it earlier, if you like, and it
can sit here to mature.

owrite 5 sentences about who you are in relation to Natural
Perfumery and submit via email

oemail me the complete list of the notes (you don’t need to provide
the number of drops you used) in your creation

oemail me your photo

Each perfumer is graded 1-10 on the following categories: how well they
followed the above instructions; whether a short five-sentence about his or her
vision of the perfume’s creation was included; whether a short five-sentence
bio; a recent photo was included; were two Data Tags with pertinent information
about their perfume included; plus: the balance, character, diffusion,
tenacity, and structure of their creation.

A Natural Perfume has the
following qualities:

oBalance
– so that no single component can be detected, unless it is a Soliflore.

oCharacter
– The twists and turns of a perfume as it evolves on the skin. What kind of a
perfume is this? Is it a raunchy riot? Is it soft and gentle? Where does it
take you? What’s at the heart of it? Does it have personality? How do the layers
unfold? Who would this perfume appeal to?

oDiffusion
– does it surround the wearer with an aura of scent?

oStructure
– Is there harmony in the mix? Have the base, heart, and head notes been
properly addressed? Are the proportions correct for these ingredients so that
there is balance, character, diffusion, and tenacity? Does it have
dimension?

oTenacity
– staying power is the ability of a perfume to last on the wearer for more than
just a couple of hours

Have fun!

The
Challengers

~ Shauna
Rudd, St Albert, AB, Canada~
Whiteoak Aromatics

Vision: In translation, Bois des Landes
means “Woodlands.” In perfumery, it’s the name of a proprietary blend of forest
notes, but conveniently, it’s also the name of my neighbourhood in Northern
Alberta. This perfume is a reflection of my
Woodlands: it’s a forest Chypre with a natural accord of what I consider to
be a prolific Canadian Prairie flower – evening-scented stock. A tendril of
evening-scented stock drifts through cedar and pine to settle on a forest floor
thick with branches, dried leaves and moss. By August in Alberta, the leaves are
already beginning to turn, and this contemplative perfume feels like autumn’s
eve as the last sliver of summer sun sets gently behind the trees.

Bio: I’ve been studying natural perfumery for about six years, but only
really started composing perfumes in a serious way a couple of years ago. My
first perfume, Sundara, was an
example of pure beginner’s luck when it won the Coeur d’Esprit 2014 Natural Perfume
Challenge. I’ve had many teachers along the way, formally and through
continuous invaluable advice from friends who I met though this vibrant
community of perfumers. I’m now getting ready to launch a line of natural
perfumes under the name Whiteoak
Aromatics. (There, I’ve said it. You’re all witnesses. Now I have to do it
for real).

Review: This perfume opens with bright floral and soft woodsy notes. Sparkling
lemon drops fall on grass green coriander leaves. It is multi-layered and
well-blended. Soon the more earthy notes bloom and rise up to my nose. It’s
warming and I’m worming my way deeper into the hard dry soil of the summer wood.
The balance between mitti attar, vetiver, and labdanum pops up and lulls me
into a peaceful stroll in the Bois des
Landes.

Vision: Pan’s Flute perfume is based on a memory of an early morning walk
through the woods in the Tahoe Valley; walking through a wooded trail that
opened up to a valley and a lake. The stillness of the lake, as the mist begins
to rise and swirl above the water, to be lost in the air, and the clean scent
of the mist, the green fragrance of leaves, the sweet fragrance of cedar,
juniper, lavender and violet captured all my senses.The serenity of the scene captured my soul
and the olfactory artist in me, as it looked like a fairly land - an ethereal
place, so dream-like in the vision, all that was missing were the Wood Nymphs
to accompany Pan on his morning walk.I
wanted to capture the dream-like mist quality as a perfume.

Notes:Base Notes: Amber and Fir Absolute; Heart
Notes:Lavender Absolute, Geranium, Rose
Damascena, Violet Leaf and Linden Blossom Absolute; Top Notes:Mimosa Absolute, Heliotrope and Bergamot. The
notes have been blended in perfumer’s lavender alcohol (my own blend which has
been aged and is organic).

Bio:A
Wing & A Prayer Perfumeswas
the winner of the Coeur d’Esprit 2015 Natural Perfume Challenge.Even though I have been
blending natural perfumes for sixteen years, I am still discovering new
ingredients and methods in the creation of unique fragrances, as continual learning
is essential in the art of perfumery. Our motto is, “define yourself naturally
by wearing A Wing & A Prayer Perfumes”.I believe that perfume is a means of self-expression and an extension of
a person and not the other way around, so I wanted to convey this in each
fragrance I create, including the Pan’s
Flute Perfume.A perfume should
capture, if you will, who the person is or who they want to be!

Review: This perfume is lively. It dances around my nose and entices me to sniff
further. I’m enchanted and willingly follow the spritely Pan into the wood. Time
for some play. I enjoy the juiciness and long-lasting sillage to the end.

Vision:When people think of the
Jersey shore, they think "Beaches" not Woods, but we have beautiful wooded
areas that I love to meander through when I need to unwind. There is one trail
I enjoy following as it winds through woods and green grassy areas. You can see
the horse farms nearby. Mimosa trees and tangles of honeysuckle fill the air
with an almost cloying sweetness at times. This is my love letter to the Woods
of the Jersey Shore.

Bio:As a former Chef whose
nose was always in the pot, to my work as a Spiritual Practitioner, I've always
adored fragrance. Its ability to enhance Spiritual, Emotional and Physical
well-being drew me to study Aromatherapy and my approach was to create
beneficial fragrances that smelled lovely. As a
Spiritual & Magickal Practitioner
I chose to work with natural essences. I realized an interest in natural perfumery and began to study that,
most recently I have begun Lyn Ayre’s Level 2 Perfumery Course, having
completed Level 1. I love the ability to create perfumes with a purpose and
that is the basis of Intuitive Goddess products.

Review:
The greenwoodis calling me and I must
follow the beckoning siren. It’s mystifying and uplifting aroma is lovely and
gentle. This perfume has great diffusion and tenacity. The violet notes are
really well done and the dry down is first rate with soft Ambrette seed,
oakmoss, and labdanum.

A night of love
awaits those who dare to wear “Tantric Notions”. Begin with using the smallest
amount possible and work up to a full spray over time. This perfume takes away
the mind and leaves the body in breathless anticipation of what’s to come. It’s
a really good tool for meditation, too, as it puts the brain on hold and brings
in a singularity of purpose.

Glam Bag Giveaway

There are two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the first and
second person who comments on the blog post and includes the words: ‘I would
like to join in the Glam Bag offer’. Contact me privately though my face book
page and I’ll connect back to you for your mailing address. There are two
organza bags of the five lovely 1 ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this
post. Let your friends know to to read and make their comments, too.There are
two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the first and second person who comments on
the blog post and includes the words: ‘I would like to join in the Glam Bag
offer’. Contact me privately though my face book page and I’ll connect back to
you for your mailing address. There are two organza bags of the five lovely 1
ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this post. Let your friends know to to read
and make their comments, too.There are two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the
first and second person who comments on the blog post and includes the words:
‘I would like to join in the Glam Bag offer’. Contact me privately though my
face book page and I’ll connect back to you for your mailing address. There are
two organza bags of the five lovely 1 ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this
post. Let your friends know to to read and make their comments, too.There are
two Glam Bags giveaways waiting for the first and second person who comments on
the blog post and includes the words: ‘I would like to join in the Glam Bag
offer’. Contact me privately though my face book page and I’ll connect back to
you for your mailing address. There are two organza bags of the five lovely 1
ml perfume samples I’ve reviewed in this post. Let your friends know to to read
and make their comments, too.There are
two ‘Glam Bag Giveaways’ to be won by a lucky commenter on this challenge. Please
include the words, ‘I would like to join the ‘Glam Bag Giveaway’ in your
comment along with anything else you’d like to say about the challenge. Let
your friends know to read my face book post and make their comments there, too.
If this is not possible, head on over to my perfume blog and do it there. http://coeurdespritnaturalperfume.blogspot.ca/

Participants in the
challenge are not included in this giveaway.

The winners can contact me privately through my face book page and we’ll connect so
I can get your mailing addresses. The gift consists of a gold organza pouch
with the three .5 ml to 1 ml perfumes I’ve reviewed so you can experience all
of the entries, as I did.

Natural Perfume Sales & Natural Perfume Course

Worldwide Visitors

Earthball installed July 1, 2010

My Soul

"I AM a Soul who has a Spirit. That Spirit is Pure Potential - Energy - which enlivens and animates my body. When my body dies, that Spirit takes all of my life experiences to my Soul. My Soul has had an unknown number of Spirits living physical lives 'down through the ages'. There are many ways to access these experiences for the good of this life." Lyn Ayre, 2009

Previous Posts

Bio

I describe myself as an intuitive visual, vocal, and olfactory artist, who loves to teach. Years ago, my first Aromatherapy teacher told me my medicinal remedies and blends smelled more like perfumes than potions. It's a way to spread a little cheer, a way to get people to relax and live a little. This created in me a type of happiness and satisfaction that I’d not experienced before.
The first few sales were made to women who had begun to have severe reactions to other perfumes. They were delighted to know they didn’t have to give up perfume but could switch to a ‘natural’ rather easily.
I am an Independent Natural Perfumer, not affiliated with any guild or organization. My process is simple: Inspired by an idea, I go to the computer and see if the formula complies with the safety guidelines. I consider the essential oils and absolutes and how they go together and react with one another. The perfume is constructed in my mind and then I get the oils out, and begin blending, sniffing, adjusting, and testing. When I’m happy, I stop, name, & label, then set it aside to mature. And, voila!